STRIKES by National Education Union members in Reading schools have had their proposal offers accepted following strike action last month.
Industrial action by NEU members in Reading Girls’ School took place across three days in September and three further concurrent days at the start of October have been successful in appealing for better concessions regarding medical appointments.
It forms the conclusion of a dispute between members and the Thames Learning Trust over what they argued were unfair policies regarding medical access.
Union members argues that staff were being forced to take unpaid leave to attend medical appointments and dental appointments,
They argued that the policy, which should have been consulted upon following a recognition agreement back in 2021, had seen “no regular consultation” meetings with staff unions.
The Trust agreed to offer paid leave for medical appointments but these were subject to the discretion of headteachers in respective schools, as well as two further days for appointments for their dependants.
However union members rejected the offer, sparking pickets at Reading Girls’ School and Baylis Court School in Slough, following a unanimous vote in favour of industrial action.
Now, after intensive negotiations with the NEU workplace representatives, the trust has changed their position, and NEU members have agreed to accept the latest offer.
All workers at the six Thames Learning Trust schools will now be granted reasonable paid time off for the purposes of medical and dental appointments.
“Concessions have also been made to allow staff to accompany dependants to medical appointments.
